Arroyo has fun but Diamondbacks lose to Reds

PHOENIX (AP) - Bronson Arroyo probably never had so much fun in a loss.

After eight years of pitching for Cincinnati, he was on the mound for Arizona facing the Reds on Friday night, and he had a good time despite the Diamondbacks’ 6-4 loss.

“Regardless of the results, that was one of the more enjoyable games I have pitched,” he said. ‘When you know someone that intimately, it is nice to know that the guys are beating you, that they are good guys and it was a fun competition.”

Devin Mesoraco had caught Arroyo often enough to know the pitcher likes to try to sneak a first-pitch curveball past hitters in tough situations.

So when Mesoraco came to the plate to face his former teammate with the bases loaded and no outs in the second inning, he wasn’t surprised to see that slow curve coming - and the Cincinnati catcher hit into the seats in left field.

“I wouldn’t say that I was looking for it,” Mesoraco said, “but I went up there with an idea that may be coming.”

When Arroyo came to the plate later in the game, he talked to Mesoraco about it.

“I said, ‘Rac, you were supposed to take one,’” Arroyo said. ‘He said, ‘I couldn’t let that one go by.’”

Mesoraco also had a solo shot off reliever Evan Marshall in the ninth inning for the second two-homer game of his career.

A.J. Pollock doubled twice, singled and scored two runs for the Diamondbacks. In the first five games of the homestand, Pollock is 11 for 20 with five doubles, a triple and a home run and has scored nine runs.

Mike Leake (3-4) gave up four runs, three earned, and six hits in six innings for his first win in eight starts. He struck out four and walked one.

Arroyo (4-4), facing his former team for the first time, allowed five runs and nine hits through seven innings. He said the Reds had an advantage knowing him so well, so they were aggressive.

“They were going to have a different game plan than anyone else I faced,” Arroyo said. “They have a lot more insight to me.”

Mesoraco’s second career slam came on the first pitch after the Reds opened the second inning with three consecutive singles.